How do I make my cat happy: scientific steps

 There are many circumstances in which keeping a cat indoors may be safer for the cat and therefore, arguably, better for the cat. Indoor cats are at lower risk of infections associated with the external environment (cars, trains, dogs, predators, humans, etc.) and are less susceptible to parasites and infectious diseases such as feline immunodeficiency virus. Studies have consistently shown that urban, outdoor cats have much shorter life spans (averaging 2 years or less), while most indoor cats live to be over 15 years. Keeping cats indoors also prevents fighting, fighting, and related injuries and has the added benefit of protecting natural wildlife.

 What do you need to do to make your indoor cat happy?

 The most important thing to consider when you decide to keep a cat indoors is how to provide for her behavioral needs. Obviously, you'll think about the need for food, water, elimination, and warmth, but have you thought about your cat's need to hunt, play, and explore, her need to retreat and hide, and her need to feel in control? Creating a consistent daily routine that provides for all of your cat's behavioral needs isn't difficult, but it does take time, some thought, and some commitment.

 How do you make sure your cat can occupy her time?

 One of the most important considerations for a house cat is how you will occupy it 24 hours a day. Of course, cats are notorious for their love of sleep, and most cats would certainly be happy to rest while their owners are away, spending many hours sleeping in a warm or sunny place. However, indoor cats need access to activity that will stimulate their mind and body and provide exercise that they can naturally engage in if they were outside.

 Air centers provide cats with opportunities to climb, hide and play and can be ideal for indoor cats. Also consider a variety of self-playing games and new items to explore for times when you are not available to play with your cat. Scratch posts are also essential.

 Why does your cat need to hunt when you can feed her well?

 Cats' desire to hunt is not associated with the feeling of hunger, and no matter how well you feed your cat, he will still react to the sight and sound of prey with an instinctive leg. Obviously, domestic cats are unlikely to encounter natural prey, but anything that moves quickly or makes a loud sound can trigger the same behavioral response.

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 Since most outdoor cats will catch upwards of 10 mice per day, some sort of alternate outlet for predation will be required. Therefore, social play and object play are essential for cats. Toys that squeak and those that can be moved quickly and unexpectedly are irresistible to some cats, while others are irresistible. You can also choose toys that mimic real prey in terms of size, texture, and color.

 Should you feed your cat at specific times or should you leave the food in the bowl all the time?

 Cats are not social feeders, and therefore set meal times have no inherent benefit in them. Ad lib regimens that allow cats to eat when they want and to consume small amounts often are considered normal, but in some individuals they can lead to obesity.

 It is important to remember that wild cats need to catch and kill their prey before they can eat and that the entire feeding process takes some time. On average it will be 1 in 3 to 1 in 15 successful hunting trips per day and in order to get enough food to survive (maybe 8-10 mice per average day) most cats need upwards of 30 trips catch daily. Thus, hunting and feeding can take many hours a day and consume a great deal of energy, so it's not hard to see how simply providing free food in a bowl is likely to leave most cats with plenty of time on their feet! Cats with access to the outdoors may compensate for spending time hunting but for indoor cats a different approach will be needed

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 Feeder toys or puzzle feeders

 One solution is to put a percentage of the cat's daily food ration in a puzzle feeder or toy feeder, which the cat needs to work with in order to get to the food, and another is to scatter the food around the house in several bowls and let the cat catch it. Puzzle feeders don't have to be expensive and you can easily make your own out of an old plastic drink bottle. All you have to do is cut holes in the bottle a little larger than the diameter of the dried cat food, then file the holes so that there are no sharp edges that could harm your cat. Fill the bottle with dry food, then watch your cat play with the bottle and get a treat when the food falls through the holes. Commercial toys that present food when chewed or manipulated are also available.

 Does your cat need to climb?

 The image of a cat stuck in a tree or stranded on a roof is a familiar image but the reality is that cats need to climb. Waking up is an important way to relieve stress in the cat world and when your cat is feeling stressed her instinct will be to move up, this can be especially necessary in homes with several cats. Therefore it is very important to have high accessible resting places.

 If your cat hides on furniture or spends time behind the couch, should you be concerned?

 Hiding is an important coping strategy for cats, and when a cat spends a lot of time hiding, it is important to examine why. In the case of a cat who has recently moved into a home, hiding may be a completely normal response to a large amount of new information. In a cat who has been in the house for some time, hiding is probably a sign that all is not well emotionally or perhaps even physically. If the reason for the hiding can be identified, it is important to address that first. In many cases, no obvious cause can be found and in these situations, you need to resist the temptation to let the cat out to face the world. Hiding serves a purpose for the solitary hunter who needs to assess the potential danger from a safe haven and denying him the opportunity to hide will only make things more difficult for the cat. Instead, you should allow your pet to withdraw to safety, at least for the short term, and then work to make the home so inviting that they can't resist the temptation to join in. Provide enough sitting and hiding areas (carriers, boxes) for each cat. For a safe area if desired. If the hiding continues and is accompanied by a lack of appetite, a vet should be consulted for advice.

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 Fresh air - walking and cat enclosures

 Some cats may need to be kept permanently indoors and this can work as long as owners are aware of the responsibility it brings. For others, access to the outdoors must be restricted, but owners want to provide some contact with the outside world and in these cases, there are a number of alternatives. The harness-and-lead approach is certainly one of them, but the truth is that not all cats will learn to walk this way. Introducing seat belts as early as possible will help, and getting a kitten accustomed to a lead will reduce resistance to using them as an adult.

 If you try to get your cat on the harness and encounter tremendous resistance, you may want to consider using an outdoor enclosure. Since cats can climb, the pen will either need a roof to prevent escape or have the sides angled in at the top to prevent climbing.

 There are a number of commercial cat cage containment products for both indoor and outdoor use. Ideally, access to the pen from the home will be via the cat's door flap and will provide the cat with access to the outdoors while providing complete peace of mind. If the enclosure is used successfully, it should simulate the outside world as closely as possible, and cat furniture, tree stumps, toys, scratching posts and raised resting places should all be available inside the pen. If a cat is allowed access to an outdoor pen when no one is home, it is very important to make sure it is properly secured to prevent any chance of escape and loss of the cat.